Stepladder



Aug. 16, 1932. J, uck 1,871,693

STEPLADDER Filed April 9, 1930 INVENTOR fave/L71 WMG} BY 2214 ATTORNE latented Aug. 16, 1932 sr'rss .Tosnmr noon, on cRnssKILL, NEW JERSEY,ASSIGNOR TO orrnsnnao, WHITMAN; co.

INCL, F LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK f STEPLADDER Application filed April 9, 1930.Serial No. 442,732.

This invention relates to step ladders, and has for its general objectand purpose to provide in a step ladder of this type, a novel means formounting and supporting a pivotally movable platform with respect to therelatively movable parts of the ladder whereby in the movement of saidladder parts, the platform is automatically disposed in its extendedoperative position or in its folded, collapsed position.

It is also an important object of the invention to provide, a device ofthe above character in which the platform or support will be stronglybraced and rigidly sustained in its extended position.

It is also a further object of the invention to provide an additionallower platform constituting the upper step of the ladder and alsoproviding means to receive and support a tool chest or work box, Thisplatform is pivotally connected at one of its ends with the side railsof the ladder proper and supported at its opposite end upon a connectingbar between the pivoted ladder supporting legs, said platform carryingcamshaped rods with which said bar is adapted to coact when the ladderparts are folded together so as to lift or raise the pivoted platform toits folded position.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in theimproved step ladder, and in the form, construction and relativearrangement of its several parts, as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawin and subsequentlyincorporated in the sub oined claims.

In the drawing, wherein I have illustrated one simple and practicalembodiment of the invention, and in which similar reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 Figure 1is a front elevation, the relatively movable parts-of the ladder beingshown in folded or collapsed position;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts of the ladder arranged inproper relative positions for use.

Referring in detail tothe drawing, 5 designates the usual side rails ofthe ladder proper which are connected with each other at verticallyspaced intervals by a number of steps, one of which is indicated at 6.The rails are also rigidly connected with each Igthe; at theirupper endsby the top mem- To the outer face of each rail 5 immediately below themember 7,'a metal plate 8 is rigidly secured and projects rearwardlyfrom the rail 5, said plate extending substantially across the fullwidth of the member 7 and the opposite ends of this plate provided withupwardly curved arms indicated at 9, engaged with the front and rearedges of the top member 7. There is also secured to the inner faceofeach rail 5 and projecting rearwardly therefrom in opposed relation tothe plate 8, a metal strap or plate 10.

Between the rearwardly projecting ends of the plates 8 and 10, the upperends of the lad der supporting legs 11 are pivoted as at 12. These legs11 are rigidly connected with each other at vertically spaced points bythe cross bars or rods 13 of wood, certain'of said rods being centrallyconnected with each other by the vertically'extending brace bar 14.

The side rails 5 and the pivoted supporting legs 11 at a suitable pointintermediate of their ends are connected with each other in the usualmanner by the foldable brace 15. Above this brace, a slatted platformgenerally indicated at 16 is arranged between the side rails 5, saidplatform including the side pieces 17 to which the slats are secured,said side pieces being pivotally mounted upon the rod 18 extendingbetween the rails 5. The other ends of the pieces 17 are adapted to restupon the uppermost rod 13 between the legs 11. In each of the parts 17of the platform 16, the ends of a wire rod 19 are fixed, said rodextending below the part 17 and having a longitudinally curved section20, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear.

At a suitable point below the top member 7 of the ladder, a supportingplatformv 21 similar to the platform. 16 but of less length is pivotallymounted at one of its ends upon the connecting rod 22 between thelegs11.

To the opposite sides of this platform, metal bars 23 are rigidly fixedat one of their ends, said rods extending upwardly and rearwardly beyondthe pivoted end of the platform and having angularly disposed free endportions 24. These end portions of said bars are slidably engagedthrough guide brackets 25 which are pivotally mounted in any suitablemanner upon the inner faces of the side rails of the ladder.-

Below the pivot-22 of the -platform21, a

stop rod 26 extends between the legs 11 for engagement by the ends ofthe side pieces 17 of the platform 16 to limit the pivotal movement ofthe ladder platform to its folded position. 4

From the above description, it will be readily understoodthatwhen thefoldable braces 15 are expanded to dispose the legs 11 of the ladder insupporting relation to the ladder rails 5 as seen in Fig. 3, theplatform 16 will drop by gravity and rest at its rear end upon thetransverse rod 13. Also, the bars 24: will slide through the pivotedguides 25 and in the spreading movement of the rails 5 and legs 13, asthe angular parts 24 of said bars move through these guides, theplatform 21 is swung rearwardly from the legs 11 to the horizontalposition shown in Fig. 3. The platform is securely braced and held inthis position against downward pivotal movement under the weight of apail or other article placed thereon, by the bearing engagement of theforward ends of the bars 2st in the guide brackets 25.

After use of the ladder, when it is folded or collapsed, as the legs 11are moved inwardly towards the ladder rails 5, the angular ends 24: ofthe bars 23 will move through the brackets 25 which turn or pivot uponthe rails 5. Thus the platform 25 is automatically swung upwardly uponthe pivot 22 to a substantially vertical position between the upper endsof the legs 11 as seen in Fig.2 of the drawing. Also, the upper rod 13extending between the legs 11 will have a camming action on the curvedsections 20 of the rods 19, and thus also raise or swing the platform 16upwardly on its pivot 18until the rear ends of the parts 17 engage thestop rod 26. Thus, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, both of theplatforms are automatically folded and disposed substantially entirelybetween the side rails 5 and the supporting legs 11 of the ladder. i

From the foregoing description considered in connection with theaccompanying drawing,'the construction, manner of use and the severaladvantages of the present invention will be clearly and fullyunderstood. It will be seen that I have devised a very simple anddurably constructed means which will be reliable in operation-toautomatically move the article supporting platform to its extended orfolded positions with respect to the ladder supporting legs. Since theseveral cooperating parts are of very simple construction, my

invention may be utilized in connection with ladders of this typewithout greatly increaspose in view, but however, it will be understoodthat the essential features thereof might also be embodied in variousother alternative structural forms, and I therefore, reserve theprivilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes therein as may befairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the inven'tion'asclaimed.

Iclaim: v 1. A step ladder comprising a ladder proper having side railsand: supporting legs pivotally connected at their upper ends, with saidrails, a platform pivotally V mounted at one of its ends between thesupporting legs, a guide bracket pivotally mounted on the inner side ofeach of the rails, a-nd bars rigidly fixed at one of their ends toopposite sides of the platform and having angularly bent end portionsslidably engaged in the respective guide brackets and cooperatingtherewith to automatically move the-platform to its extended or foldedpositions with respect to the supporting legs in the pivotal movement ofthe latter relativeto said rails.

2. A step ladder comprising a ladder proper having side rails,supporting legs pivotally connected to the upper ends of said rails, aplatform pivotally mounted at one of its ends between the supportinglegs to extend rearwardly therefrom, means rigidly fixed to the platformand projecting longitudinally thereof beyond its pivoted end, and guidemeans mounted on one end of the ladder rails movably engaged by saidlast named means and cooperating therewith in the pivotal movement ofsaid supporting legs to move said pivoted platform to an extendedhorizontal position with respect to said legs or to a vertical foldedposition therebetween.

3. A step ladder comprising a ladder prop- .er having side rails andsupporting legs pivotally connected to the upper ends of said rails, aplatform pivotally mounted at one of its ends between the supportinglegs to extend rearwardly therefrom, an angularly bent memberv fixedtothe platform'and projecting longitudinally thereof beyond its pivotedend, and a guide pivotally mounted on one of hereto.

JOSEPH I-IUCK.

